Frentzen takes maiden DTM pole
Heinz Harald Frentzen will start the 2006 DTM finale at Hockenheim from pole position for Audi after an unexpected last-gasp flying lap toppled Mercedes-Benz from the top of the pile
Pole had looked destined for Mercedes's Bruno Spengler, whose 1:33.626 lap outstripped teammate Jamie Green's initial pole mark of 1:33.639.
But Frentzen came from nowhere to set 1:33.518 - his first pole in the German-based V8 tin-top series.
"It all worked out at the decisive moment," said Frentzen, who only just scraped through the first knockout session.
"We made some mechanical and tyre pressure changes through the sessions, and in the end the car was great."
Martin Tomczyk will start fourth for Audi, ahead of teammate Tom Kristensen, who needs a good result this weekend to beat Spengler to second in the championship.
Mika Hakkinen and Bernd Schneider qualified sixth and seventh for Mercedes, with another surprise being Daniel la Rosa's progression to the final top eight shoot-out, which he predictably finished last.
Super Pole: Pos Driver Make Time 1. H-H.Frentzen Audi 1:33.518 2. Bruno Spengler Mercedes 1:33.626 + 0.108 3. Jamie Green Mercedes 1:33.639 + 0.121 4. Martin Tomczyk Audi 1:33.771 + 0.253 5. Tom Kristensen Audi 1:33.777 + 0.259 6. Mika Hakkinen Mercedes 1:33.797 + 0.279 7. Bernd Schneider Mercedes 1:33.880 + 0.362 8. Daniel La Rosa Mercedes 1:35.433 + 1.915 Second session: Pos Driver Make Time 9. Stefan Mucke Mercedes 1:34.256 10. Christian Abt Audi 1:34.258 + 0.002 11. Mattias Ekstrom Audi 1:34.349 + 0.093 12. Timo Scheider Audi 1:34.568 + 0.312 13. Pierre Kaffer Audi 1:34.637 + 0.381 14. Frank Stippler Audi 1:34.838 + 0.582 First session: Pos Driver Make Time 15. Jean Alesi Mercedes 1:34.759 16. A.Margaritis Mercedes 1:34.867 + 0.108 17. Mathias Lauda Mercedes 1:35.321 + 0.562 18. Thed Bjork Audi 1:35.463 + 0.704 19. Susie Stoddart Mercedes 1:35.618 + 0.859
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